What do ICD-10-CM codes primarily identify?

ICD-10-CM codes are primarily used to classify and code the diagnoses and reasons for healthcare visits. These codes provide a standardized way to record and report the conditions under which patients seek medical attention, ensuring that healthcare data is accurate and consistent across various settings. This classification system is critical for billing purposes, data analysis, and healthcare management, as it helps healthcare providers to communicate effectively about patient conditions and treatments.

The other options focus on different aspects of healthcare data that do not align with the primary function of ICD-10-CM codes. While hospital admission data, inpatient surgery records, and preventative medical services are significant in healthcare documentation, they are not the main focus and purpose of ICD-10-CM coding. These codes do not specifically identify admission data or surgical procedures; instead, their primary role is to capture the diagnosis details relevant to patient care.